James 'Jim' Glen Bray, 79
“Family and friends, say goodbye to an amazing man!”
James “Jim” Glen Bray, of Kalispell, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, reaching the age of 79 years old. After months of health concerns, the Lord chose for his battle to be over and took him home.
Jim was born June 15, 1940, in Butte to Roy Bray and Elsie Victoria Faurer, then later by guardians Ted and Lavern Rodler with their two children Sandra and Kenneth. After the death of his father in Butte, Elsie moved Jim and his brother Robert to The Dalles, Oregon. After she passed, he moved to Bigfork to his guardians Ted and Lavern Rodler.
In 1958, he met and married the love of his life, Jeanette Boucher, in Bigfork. They lived together almost inseparably for over 61 years. Together they raised their three children in Evergreen and Bigfork. When Jim retired in 2005, they moved to Kalispell.
From 1967 to 1982, Jim loved working with his log truck and in 1983 became part owner of Owens and Bray Chip Trucking with Lum Owens. When he wasn’t at work, you could always catch him in his shop tinkering with projects and listening to “Orange Blossom Special.”
Jim was a breed of his own. He marched to his own beat and you could always count on him. He loved God, family and country. Most of the time he was a man with few words, but if he had something to say, he wasn’t quiet!
He was a strong patriarch of his family, a good friend to many and all. He was always willing to teach and help. He would always say, “There’s a right way, a wrong way and the Bray way.”
He was a good father who always took care of his children and did the best he could to teach and guide them, as well as a loving grandfather (“Papa”) and great-grandfather.
Jim is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jeanette; three children, Victoria Bray, Michael (Terri) Bray, and Timothy Bray; three grandchildren, Amanda Ajitsingh, Cheryl Steenson and Justin Bray; great-grandchildren, Gretchen Ajitsingh and Ayla Steenson; foreign exchange son Chris Kaiser and family; and his brother, Robert Bray.
Jim was preceded in death by parents, Roy and Elsie Bay; guardians, Ted and Lavern Rodler, with their two children Sandra and Kenneth.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at First Nazarene Church, 1295 Whitefish Stage, Kalispell.
A reception will follow at Village Greens Community Center, 500 Palmer Drive, Kalispell.
Friends are encouraged to visit the website www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.